COUNTRY WOMEN DISCUSS MANY MATTERS

Chronicle (Levin), 8 July 1946, Page 2

COUNTRY WOMEN DISCUSS MANY MATTERS

— ■ — , I Itemits on social and moral, eep.nomic and health nvatters were discussed by the Women 's Riviaion of Federated . Fariners of New Zealand. (fornicrly theWomen 'a Division of " the Farmers '- Union) at ita Dominion eonference in Wellington on Friday. In' the interests of young people, the eonference agreed, the :aale of liquor should proliibited in hotels oh Saturdays and hotel hara should be clos'ed on' Saturdays to briug tltem into line with other buainesses. That an attompt be made to secure continuoua telcplionic services in all country districts and that the timo had come when the Government could restore the lialf and quarter rates for telephone toll ealls that were in operation before the war were the subjeets of two reniita that were passed. The use of aniline dyea as eolouring in foodstulTs should be proliibited, delegates agreed. Agreement was also reached followirig the proposal made that an adequate district nurses' seTvicc be made available to supply all eountrv districts.

"That. the Women's Division record appreciatiou of the worlc done by the land girls during the war" was stated in another remit , passed. Unanimous agreement was reached on the matter of support for the Dominion advisory board in any action it mighl take in" regarS to a much-needed headquarters bui-lding. The eonference agreed that the sum of more tlian £5000 could be spent on a suitable building; if' uccessary. Woxuen's Concern. "Sorrow, starvation and disease ha\ve bred soul-dest.roying animosities in tlie lives of millions, and we view with apprehension the years aliead," said ^Irs. W. Elliott, Dominion president, in her report. ' ' Realising the issues at stake, everv one of us must wrork to win the peace. "A new c.oneeption altogethcr m science has been " released, namely, atomie energy. This complete revolntion in science has, up to the present, been applicd only for destruction, and the world is staggered and terrilied at its enormous destroying power. . "New Zealand was facing some postwar problems which were of deep concern to the women of the country, she said. "The shortage of domestic heip was disturbing* • Todny there wero all sorts of alluruig and enticing positions in cities andTowns for young women. ' ' Iligh ahd higiier ' ' wages wefte oflEered and ' 1 short and shortor ' ' liours, the result being that the woman on the land "went warrtingi7 IManv women today wero sufl'erihg ifl-hPalfh Jtf'ttnuke-df sustained efl'ort, atid the. need for domestic hclp was urgent. •Statling dilhculties of inaternity and general hospitals were discussed by Mrs. Elliott, who said the closing down of.maternity homes in some country | districts and to'wu areas was "distincf lv alarming. " Was it altogether shortage )1' staif; or-might it not be the overbeuring regulations demanded by the authorities making it impossible for owners to carry on, she asked. "We have lieen trying to overeome these d i tlic.nl ti es, but tlie ti ihe is now horo when we must. uso this opportunLtv to act toward the relief, if not the rectifying, of these alarming situaiions," said Mrs. Elliott. * Presentations were made. to the, headquarters stalf by delegates To the eon ferenco. The noxt Dominion eonference will hihi Wellington in .Tulv, 1947. Mrs. Elliott was re.-elected Dominion president, and Mrs. W. F. Field (1'alu?- ' erston Xorth ) was re-elccted to the Advisory Board.